KAMPALA, Uganda – Furaha Finserve Uganda Limited and Cairo Bank Uganda have strengthened their strategic partnership to expand access to education financing across the country, in a move aimed at tackling persistent school fee payment challenges and improving stability in the private education sector.
The renewed collaboration was announced during the Education Finance Summit held in Kampala, which brought together school directors, proprietors, and headteachers to explore innovative financial solutions for sustaining education delivery.
Bridging the School Fees Gap
Uganda’s private schools continue to face a significant mismatch between expected and actual fee collections. In many cases, schools collect as little as 30 percent of total fees at the start of term, creating operational strain and, in extreme cases, forcing institutions to send students home due to unpaid balances.
Denis Musinguzi, Chief Executive Officer of Furaha Finserve Uganda, said the partnership is designed to close this financing gap by enabling parents to access quick and affordable school fees loans.
“Our mission is to eliminate disruptions in learning by ensuring every child has continuous access to education through timely financing,” Musinguzi said. “We have already supported over 30,000 children to stay in school and are working with more than 5,000 institutions nationwide.”
Digital Platform Driving Access
At the heart of the initiative is Furaha’s fully digital platform, which allows parents to apply for school fees loans instantly via mobile devices. Using a USSD code or mobile app, funds are approved and disbursed in less than five minutes directly into a school’s bank account.
This model ensures transparency, reduces misuse of funds, and guarantees that financing is used strictly for education purposes. The digital approach also improves predictability for schools, helping them manage budgets, maintain staffing levels, and invest in infrastructure without relying solely on irregular fee payments.
Cairo Bank’s Expanded Role
Cairo Bank Uganda is leveraging its financial strength to complement Furaha’s technology by offering a broader range of tailored financing solutions.
Sylvia Jagwe Owachi, Acting Managing Director of Cairo Bank Uganda, emphasized the bank’s commitment to strengthening the education ecosystem.
“Education is a cornerstone of national development. Through our partnership with Furaha, we are delivering a seamless financing ecosystem that benefits schools, parents, and learners alike,” she said.
Through its EduBridge loan portfolio, the bank provides school fees loans for parents, working capital for schools, infrastructure development financing, and supplier and staff financing solutions. The bank also offers medium- to long-term loans of up to five years, and in exceptional cases up to eight years, to support investments in classrooms, laboratories, sports facilities, and technology.
Supporting Uganda’s New Curriculum
The initiative comes at a critical time as schools adapt to Uganda’s competence-based curriculum, which requires significant investment in practical learning facilities and vocational training.
George Mutekanga, Assistant Commissioner for Private Schools and Institutions at the Ministry of Education and Sports, welcomed the partnership, noting its alignment with national priorities.
“This financing model is timely. The new curriculum is resource-intensive, and both schools and parents need reliable financial support,” he said.
Mutekanga called on financial institutions to work closely with education stakeholders, including school associations and proprietors, to expand awareness and access to financing solutions. He also highlighted the disparity between public and private schools, noting that while government institutions benefit from grants and infrastructure support, private schools, which educate a large portion of learners, often lack similar assistance.
“Private schools are delivering quality education but without adequate support. Partnerships like this can help level the playing field by financing essential facilities and long-term development,” he added.
Sector Impact and Outlook
Education leaders at the summit praised the initiative as a practical solution to longstanding financial constraints in the sector.
Hajjat Zauja Ndifuna, Executive Secretary and Director of Mbogo Schools, noted that timely financing could significantly reduce disruptions caused by unpaid fees and improve overall learning outcomes.
The partnership is expected to strengthen private school operations, enhance financial resilience, and ensure that more students remain in class throughout the academic term.
Launch of “Musomo Gw’Obulamu” Campaign
The summit also marked the launch of the “Musomo Gw’Obulamu” campaign, an initiative aimed at further supporting learners through education financing.
Under the program, Furaha, working with Cairo Bank and participating schools, will sponsor at least one student per school with financial support of up to UGX 1 million. The campaign will run throughout the school term, with awards issued bi-weekly starting June 2026.
Parents can apply for school fees loans via mobile platforms, making access to education financing faster and more inclusive.
A Step Toward Inclusive Education
As Uganda’s education sector continues to evolve, the Furaha–Cairo Bank partnership represents a significant step toward addressing affordability challenges, supporting institutional growth, and ensuring uninterrupted learning for thousands of students.
By combining digital innovation with financial expertise, the initiative is positioning itself as a scalable solution to one of the country’s most pressing education challenges.
